How Much Is Too Much - When Showing Off Your PAD?

This topic has been in the back of my mind for a while and would love to hear everyone's thoughts. When I find a pipe that I got a great deal on and am very proud of, I want to share it with you all. I also love it when I find that a fellow smoker finds a great deal on a high end pipe or finds a $10 eBay steal. I love pipe pics whether its a super fine collection or a nice acquisition of someone's first briar. I don't see One-upmanship here personally as I am not a jealous guy.

Pipe smoking with buddies is non-existent for me. I am always traveling and this forum is my only outlet for my favorite hobby. So when I find something cool, I am all giddy to show it off here. Does anyone ever get grumpy thinking, geeze I wish this guy would slow down with the pics and PAD posts already? Just curious. Thoughts?

To be clear, it never occurred to me, either, that anyone was showing off. Just a bit of online show-and-tell -- sharing. I get a kick out of seeing what other people have bought, whether it's a commissioned artisan pipe or a Peterson or whatever. I assume most other people here feel the same way.

If you've got the funds for some crazy PAD more power to you! I'm just in it for the pipe porn, no anger issues here. Although, I could see someone getting angry if the pipe someone was showing off was one another person was bidding on. I'm sure it's happened on a few occasions considering how small the community is.

As long as there's pic's I love it. That makes it for all of us. Just saying I got something for $X is not being part of the community. I don't care how much it's worth, I dig pipes and those that are more unique rather than the price. If I wasn't cellaring, I'd be showing off a beauty every month.
Pics, Pics it's all about the pics!

“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.” Patrick Henry

I'm as guilty as the next guy of showing off my centerfold spread of pipe porn. I too get ideas and sparks of inspiration from those that show off their cool pipes which in turn makes me go search for a beautiful specimen of my own. No jealousy here either.

I get a kick out of seeing everyone's pipes, $10 or $1000. In fact, the better the bargain, the bigger the kick for me. A buddy on another forum is into Orlik and Loewes pipes. If it weren't for his posts, I wouldn't know anything about either. You guys know that I love my GBD pipes and it was posts on this and other forums that gave me the education on this maker and the desire to own them. All the pictures of pipes on Ebay and online pipe shops don't have the same impact for me as hearing from a satisfied real-world owner who shelled out valuable PAD dollars to acquire it.

I agree with everyone else. I love to see the new pipes and the show and tell is a very cool part of this forum. I've never detected any showing off. Getting a new pipe is always good fun and it's nice to have place to share that excitement.

Iam more happy for the guy who got the 10 dollar ebay special and cleaned it up . Whenever I see a high dollar pipe with no cake I often wonder what the deep underlying ulterior motive is . The bragging of the justification of the higher dollar pipes is absurd often leading to bashing of pipes of lesser monetary value . As for me I only smoke pipes made by dead people,of 400 year old briar drilled with a hand casted bronze drill bit and shaped with a piece of glass from the Sistine Chapel . You can tell me which is more incongruous . YMMV

“There was an awful suspicion in my mind that I'd finally gone over the hump, and the worst thing about it was that I didn't feel tragic at all, but only weary, and sort of comfortably detached.”

I guess I kind of thought the point of these forums was to discuss pipes, tobacco and to show off your finds with people that share your interest. Since I can't afford another pipe for awhile, I would just as soon see yours.

I'll continue to post pix of new pipes (which is why they may not have a cake yet, Igloo), but I'll be careful not to be "bragging of the justification of the higher dollar pipes is absurd often leading to bashing of pipes of lesser monetary value"

Add me to the list of people who love to look at pictures of other people's pipes and to share pictures of my new acquisitions. I have learned a lot from this forum in just the short time I have been here, and looking at pictures of pipes and reading the discussions of their various qualities is a big part of the learning process for me. I had never even heard of GBD pipes before I came here, and now I seem to be a collector of them. So for my part, please keep sharing your pipes, everybody.

I love looking at pics of other people's pipes! Its actually a good thing for me. I'f I'm browsing awesome pipes on a website, I am too tempted to purchase it. But if I'm browsing pics of pipes other people have won or purchased, then I get to share in their victory, admire the beauty, and its one pipe I wont be spending money one. haha!

"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." - G. K. Chesterton

Sure, I agree, it's great to see a fellow puffer's newest acquisition and it's nice to share his/her pride in their new "baby."

But what I enjoy just as much is the discussion that often follows in that thread about the pipe, great info such as why it drew the buyer's attention, the pipe maker, the shape/style, the finish, the stem etc. That stuff always makes for a fun read as we share our thoughts and learn a few things in the process.

I definatly am guilty of posting pics of newly aquired briar. I am hopelessly afflicted with a critical case of PAD.

I love to see everyones pipe porn, and am excited to post my own when I can. Do I get a little jealous?...Absolutely, but in a good way. Im happy for anyone who is proud of their purchase and wants to show it off. All the beautiful pictures are one of the things I enjoy about this site.

I only have one friend that is a pipe smoker, and I share my pictures with him, but hes not much of a computer guy, and so he does not browse the pics here. My wife couldn't care less about my pipes unless it cuts into her shopping money. So... in my excitement, and with no one with which to share, I post it here, where I know all you fine folks will appreciate it, since we share the same passion.

I love seeing pipe pictures no matter what the cost of the pipe. I think it is great that we support each other and our purchases. I say the more the merrier. I have gotten some great ideas about what pipes to buy from people here and appreciate everyone's collections.

To be honest, I'm always a little disappointed most of the posts on the "What are You Smoking in XX" thread don't have pictures. Someone just posted they enjoyed a Barllings 249 Fossil and I sure would have loved to have seen that pipe.

I also agree with all the comments. Seeing so many different shapes and finishes has lead me to appreciate many pipes I would have never even considered. My world keeps expanding and that's a good thing.

"Each of you be a light unto yourself; betake yourself to no external refuge. Hold fast to the Truth. Look not for refuge to anyone beside yourself." -The Buddha

I am in the same boat gwtwdbss. I don't have pipe smoking buddies past this forums. I love being able to see what other people are buying and smoking, and I love people talking about what I've gotten. More pipe porn imo.